ZDNet has an interesting blog post asking what you might need a 6-core CPU for. Intel plans to release a 6-core processor, trumping AMD just as they release their own version of a quad core. However, how much use these extra cores will be in normal usage remains to be seen: "Simply put, the...
core wars just don’t bring that much to the table right now in terms of killer apps–unless you count virtualization as the thing that will get the masses enthusiastic. Intel’s server chip roadmap assault is really about running circles around AMD, tick tocking to new cores, and most of all preserving if not improving the average selling price of chips. All you have to do is buy more cores and figure out what they’ll enable later. Intel needs more cores to thump AMD. You may not need them."
